The title comes with £1.1million funding prize

Boroughs from across the capital are vying for more than £1million in funding as they look to become London’s cultural hub - and Bexley council says it will do “all it can” to be named amongst the winners.

Launched by the mayor of London Sadiq Khan, the new London borough of culture award will see all 32 boroughs apply for the prize, which will go toward staging a programme of “world class cultural events and initiatives”

The first winner will be announced in February 2018, and will receive £1.1million from City Hall toward its project, alongside a £300,000 grant from the City Bridge Trust and £600,000 up for grabs for six boroughs which “put forward exemplary projects” but do not receive top prize.

Bexley council is set to prepare its bid “shortly” as it looks to contend with the likes of Camden, Hackney and Westminster.

A spokesperson said: “We have some fantastic cultural sites in Bexley and we will be working with local community groups, key partners, local practitioners, established professionals, arts and theatre groups, schools, businesses and many more stakeholders to do all we can to be named as one of the winning boroughs.

“All London boroughs are being encouraged to apply – to shine a light on the people and places that make the borough unique, and to provide a clear and ambitious vision for cultural development well-beyond 2020.

“The two winning boroughs, one in 2019 and one in 2020, will receive over £1.1m support from the Greater London Authority (GLA) to deliver a year-long programme of cultural projects, combining an exciting mix of local community projects and large scale, iconic programmes and events, firmly putting the winning boroughs on the cultural map in London.”

Launching the competition, Mr Khan said: “Now more than ever, there is a pressing need to reach out to our neighbours and celebrate London’s unique and diverse culture.

“From the outset of my mayoralty, I pledged to make growing London’s culture a core priority and I’m proud to launch this ground-breaking new initiative, which I know will bring culture to life across the city. I can’t wait to see what inspiring ideas our boroughs have in store.”